How I wanted to fuck her body against the windows of my home again.
A home that was going to be our home soon.
“Thank you for dinner,” she said.
“Thank you for coming,” I said.
“I’m sorry I’m not any more energetic than this.”
“No need to be sorry. It’s been an interesting few days for us both.”
I heard her sigh heavily as her body melted into mine before she jolted and sat up.
“Yikes. I think I’m more tired than I thought,” she said, giggling.
“Well, then let’s get you to bed. I’ll go pull back the covers and I think you have a nightgown still here.”
“I do?” she asked
“I think so. But if all else fails, you can just wear one of my shirts.”
“Actually, I think I’m going to venture home.”
Home.
The word stopped me in my tracks.
“What?” I asked.
“You know, back to my apartment? It’s been such a whirlwind, coming here and things with work and Derek popping up randomly. I just—sort of want to be in my own bed.”
Red flags were popping up everywhere in my vision and I tried to shake them away. Abby looked so tired and so vulnerable. How many glasses of wine had she had?”
“Should you be driving with the wine in your system?” I asked.
“Oh, I took an Uber to get here.”
“You did what?” I asked.
“Colin, it’s not a big deal. I know you’re scared with me being in this new city, but I’m learning my way around. You know, sinking my claws into it or whatever. I promise that it’s fine. I figured we would be having wine, so I didn’t drive.”
“Then let me at least send you with my driver,” I said.
“Colin. Eventually you’re going to have to stomach the fact that I’m independent. Eventually you’re going to have to be okay with the fact that it’s not your money I want.”
“But what is your independence going to cost us?” I asked.
Her eyes held mine with a confused look before her face slowly melted into stone.
“Abby, I didn’t mean that the way it came out.”
“I should be going,” she said.
“Abby, please. Just stay and let’s talk about it. It’s obvious we both have some things we need to say. Let’s just say them.”
“Right now, all I need is sleep. Thank you for dinner, Colin. It was lovely.”
The elevator doors opened and she stepped in swiftly. I knew better than to go after her. It would only give her fuel for her argument. I pleaded with my eyes to try and get her to stay. I tried to silently communicate with her that all I wanted was to be close to her. To be next to her at night.
To be her fiancé, for fuck’s sake.
But instead, the elevator doors closed and I listened as the humming dragged her down. I looked down from my penthouse apartment and watched her step out into the street, getting into some foreign car with some foreign person driving it. I pulled out my phone and sent her a text message, telling her to let me know when she got home safely.
Then, I sat by the fire and allowed the memories of our relationship to drench me.
Because at that moment, those memories were all I had.
Chapter 8
Abby
I stopped in the coffee shop next to my apartment building before work. The sun was shining brightly onto the city, rousing it from cozy slumber. Cars were on the road and people were out walking their dogs. The smell of different coffees wafted under my nose as I entered the coffee shop. I’d woken up with a lot on my mind and was ready to get into work. I was ready to throw myself into the job so I could try to get my mind off of all the things that were spiraling around me.
I grabbed my coffee before a man appeared at my side. Dressed in black and donning a familiar hat, I sighed as he escorted me to the car. I wished I could walk to work and experience Los Angeles in the morning. I wanted to walk by a food stand and get breakfast from the back of a truck. I wanted to get my coffee from a street vendor that made it just a bit too strong. I wanted to take a detour by the beach and take my heels off, digging my toes into the sand just before work.
But Colin had this car waiting for me every morning, and I had no other choice.
The driver escorted me out of the building and off to the side of the car. He opened my door for me and smiled kindly, waiting for me to step in so he could take me to work.
I debated not even getting in until a voice rose from behind me.
“Abby.”
The hair on the back of my neck stood on end. Now, all I wanted to do was get in the car and drive away as fast as possible. The driver stepped in front of me, putting a wall between myself and Derek.
I turned around and stepped to the side so I could take my ex in with my own two eyes.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I asked. “I never called you.”
“Well, I informed your fiancé I was leaving, so I figured I should let you know as well.”
“You informed my fiancé?” I asked.
“Yes. I called him last night.”
My mind flashed to the business call he took and I felt my skin crawling with anger.
“Well, good fucking riddance,” I said.
“He must really love you,” he said.
“What the fuck does that mean?” I asked.
“To pay off your lawsuit. He must really love you.”
“What lawsuit?” I asked.
I watched Derek’s eyes sparkle with delight as I shivered. Whatever the hell he was baiting me for, I’d stepped right into his trap. I dug around for my phone
